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Melting Pot
I propped myself back on my elbows and let my head turn upward until all I could see was spacious sky full of stars, and light. The sound of fireworks broke through the warm night air, and the hum of voices grew to collective oohs, and aahs with each new explosion of light. The bright tendrils dripped toward earth as each blast dissipated and a new one took its place. I watched the fireworks display and reflected on this Independence…
Small Dining Room Solutions
“I know that I heard thunder!” I said to my husband. “No. I checked the radar and nothing is coming.” He replied and then added, “So can you hurry up and get ready because I am hungry.” He finished and moved his hand around and around in a wrap it up and let’s go gesture. Finally, ready and walking out the door we heard the “Boom!”
Key West Color
I stepped out of the van and took a deep refreshing breath of the salty southernmost air. It has been seven months since my last Key West adventure and I am happy to be down island again. All worries and cares seem to slough off with each passing day and it is easy to not count the hours and be on island time. In the beginning years of our marriage we would visit Key West once a year for vacation…
Wild Inspired
Now it’s getting fun… I thought as the girl at my table shrieked and yelled out the name of husband’s friend and classmate. Embarrassed, he lowered his head and began eating his food with gusto; as if he wished he was invisible. “You know, I did not want to come to this reunion but now I am so happy to be here and watch this play out.”
Fifteen Minutes
I have achieved my fifteen minutes of fame! Well, my big van did! Actually, it was two seconds that I have played over and over for fifteen minutes! Last December we headed to Key West to pick up art I had purchased from the Alan Maltz gallery. We arrived at Southernmost on The Beach in the late afternoon ready to get our room and get to dinner. However, when we pulled into the parking lot a huge passenger bus seemed…
Southern Comfort
“This is a Beautiful housewarming party!” I said. “Can you believe that I finally own this house?” my friend asked me as we stared at the vista together. “It is beautiful,” I said with admiration. Lights twinkled in the sprawling oak trees that stood like guardians of the large back yard. A brick path meandered through planted beds of blooming agapanthus and wild orchids bursting with orange blooms.
Form and Function
After decorating homes for fourteen years I have learned certain code phrases from customers that help me to understand some of their needs. The phrase, “We have to live here”, is code for “We want our home to be comfortable and things to be easily accessible.” The second phrase, “This is not a house in a magazine”, is code for “we want a casual livable style that looks nice and doesn’t break the bank.” And finally my favorite phrase to…
Give to Get
“This table is a big behemoth blocking this room.” I said as a general observation of the space. “Oh but I love my table and I love the way that it curves around the couch” My client said with disappointment that I chose the table to pick on. “I love the table too!” I said but you want an open look and we can’t have an open look until we open the space”, I said lifting my shoulders and turning…
Flip Side
“I made the competition squad for the summer at gymnastics!” Regan said with much excitement. She then started doing back walkovers along the side decking of the pool. “You should be careful or else you will fall in the pool doing all that.” I said, eyebrows knit with worry but not able to look away. “Aunt Ruth, I do these on the balance beam so I will back flip in a straight line.” She replied with assured self-confidence. “Watch I…
CLARITY
It is easy to lose yourself in a great photograph that evokes emotion and transports you to another world. For a moment the “world” was the waters of the Dry Tortugas and the large photograph was titled, “Clarity”. These islands were first discovered by Ponce de Leon and they were named for their great turtle population. They are called dry because there is no fresh water on the islands. In the surrounding waters of the Tortugas chain the treasure of…
Master Retreat
“Regan Olivia! I can’t even see the floor in here! It looks like a future episode of “Hoarders!” I said with shock when I saw my niece’s bedroom. It looked as if she stood in the middle of the room and threw things over her head to see where they would land. She looked at me wide eyed as if caught by surprise and said, “I was sorting everything but then my friends always want to play and I run…
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